Organic Chemistry I

Topic outline

Course Description

Course description

Carbon can form bonds with itself and almost all of the other elements, giving rise to an enormous variety of carbon-containing molecules. Early organic chemists struggled with the structure of one – a cyclic molecule called benzene - until Friedrich Kekulé solved the puzzle in a dream: he saw the carbon atoms “twisting in a snake-like motion. But look! What was this? One of the snakes had seized hold of its own tail, and the form whirled mockingly before my eyes.” In this course we study the chemistry of these carbon-based compounds – their structures, properties and reactions. Many examples include descriptions and mechanisms of biological reactions. This is an intermediate chemistry course and provides essential background for biology, chemistry, pre-med, and pre-vet students.